Search results for ""author united nations""

The Information Economy Report 2017 analyses the evolving digital economy and its implications for trade and development. While these are still early days of the digital economy, it is already clear that it will have globally transformative impacts on the way we live, work and develop our economies. As the world strives to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, harnessing the power of information and communications technologies (ICTs) is essential. Large parts of the developing world remain disconnected from the Internet, and many people lack access to high-speed broadband connectivity. Policymaking at the national and international levels needs to mitigate the risk that digitalisation could widen existing divides and create new gaps. Since increased reliance on digital technologies, such as cloud computing, three-dimensional printing, big data and "the Internet of things", it is essential to start assessing opportunities and pitfalls alike, and to prepare for what is coming. The analysis contained in the report contributes to this process and proposes ways in which the international community can reduce inequality, enable the benefits of digitalization to reach all people and ensure that no one is left behind by the evolving digital economy.

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The European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road is intended to increase the safety of international transport of dangerous goods by road. Regularly amended and updated since its entry into force, it contains the conditions under which dangerous goods may be carried internationally. This version has been prepared on the basis of amendments applicable as from 1 January 2019. It contains in particular new or revised provisions concerning transport of adsorbed gases; lithium batteries (including damaged or defective lithium batteries, lithium batteries for disposal or recycling); asymmetric capacitors; discarded packagings; ammonium nitrate and radioactive material; testing of gas cartridges and fuel cell cartridges; marking of bundles of cylinders; and the applicability of ISO standards to the manufacture of new pressure receptacles or service equipment

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This Bulletin presents data and statistical indicators on external and intraregional trade in goods in ESCWA member countries. Data are presented in time series until 2015 and were drawn primarily from national sources, and from secondary sources when needed. The Bulletin aims to assist policymakers, analysts, researchers and other users at the national, regional and international levels.This bilingual publication contains information in Arabic and English.

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The World Statistics Pocketbook is an annual compilation of key statistical indicators prepared by the United Nations Statistics Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs. The topics covered include: agriculture, balance of payments, education, energy, environment, food, gender, health, information and communication, international finance, international tourism, international trade, labour, migration, national accounts, population and prices

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This publication comprises analytical tables of national accounting aggregates for more than 200 countries and areas, for 1970-2019. It contains estimation methods for compiling data. Tables include analysis of data on GDP by structural components, classified into: 1) analysis of level and real growth of total and per capita GDP; 2) analysis of percentage shares of GDP by type of expenditure and gross value by economic activity; 3) analysis of economic development expressed in terms of real growth of GDP and its components by type of value, and 4) analysis of price development reflected by implicit price deflators of GDP.

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The Yearbook collects, compiles and disseminates official statistics on a wide range of topics. Data have been collected from national statistical authorities since 1948 through a set of questionnaires dispatched annually by the United Nations Statistics Division to over 230 national statistical offices. The Yearbook disseminates statistics on population size and composition, births, deaths, marriage and divorce on an annual basis. This edition presents data as available for reference years up to and including 2019.

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Attaining equality between women and men and eliminating all forms of discrimination against women are fundamental human rights and United Nations values. Women around the world nevertheless regularly suffer violations of their human rights throughout their life, and realizing women's human rights has not always been prioritized. Achieving equality between women and men requires a comprehensive understanding of the ways in which women experience discrimination and are denied equality so as to develop appropriate strategies to eliminate such discrimination. This publication provides an introduction to women's human rights, beginning with the main provisions in international human rights law and going on to explain particularly relevant concepts for fully understanding women's human rights.

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The Preliminary Overview of the Economies of Latin America and the Caribbean, one of ECLAC's most important annual reports, analyzes in its 2017 edition the economic performance of the region throughout the year, the international context and macroeconomic policies implemented by countries, while also providing an outlook for 2018.

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This publication informs inter-governmental and inter-agency regional decision making in support of implementing the 2030 Agenda in the region. It highlights areas where progress has been made concerning Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and areas that need collective decisions for prioritizing acceleration or changing trends. It provides an effective communication tool to foster inclusive regional consultations and effective engagement of the stakeholders including media and civil society. The report uses cross-nationally comparable data from the ESCAP database on the proposed SDGs indicator framework as well as statistics available at the regional and sub-regional levels.

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This report introduces the Access to Physical Infrastructure Index as a tool to capture the multidimensional character of infrastructure and to illustrate the strong positive causality between infrastructure and sustainable development. The report highlights that significant infrastructure gaps exist among the countries with special needs, and estimates that these countries need to invest an average of 10.5 per cent of GDP per annum in infrastructure development and maintenance to close the infrastructure deficit, taking population growth, increasing urbanization and the impact of climate change into account. The report emphasizes that clear priorities are required for infrastructure development and that sequencing infrastructure investment is necessary by determining where the impact of additional infrastructure on sustainable development outcomes may be the largest.

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This report, developed by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific in cooperation Asian Development Bank, offers an evidence-based look at progress at the regional and country level, providing an overview of long-term trends since 1990, and focuses on progress achieved in the most recent period, 2012-2014. Furthermore, it examines the key drivers behind progress, as well as identifies major challenges to achieving energy access, efficiency, and renewable energy objectives. Evidence is drawn from the Global Tracking Framework (GTF) data, as well as other international sources to provide a comprehensive view of progress in light of regional and national contexts. A strong focus is also placed on examining national policy frameworks and offering case studies to illustrate national approaches to common challenges faced by countries advancing the sustainable energy agenda

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Disability-inclusive development is an essential condition for a sustainable future. In 2015, the United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, pledging to leave no one behind in the global efforts to realize the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Without the world's one billion persons with disabilities - 15% of the world population - being included as both agents and beneficiaries of development, these Goals will never be achieved. Yet, persons with disabilities are still invisible and often left behind. This United Nations flagship report is the first publication to address, at the global level, the nexus between disability and the Sustainable Development Goals. It is also the first global analysis based on an unprecedented amount of data, legislation and policies from over 100 countries to understand the socio-economic circumstances of persons with disabilities and the challenges and barriers they face in their daily lives. This report examines new areas, like the role of access to energy to enable persons with disabilities to use assistive technology, for which no global research was previously available. And explores the linkages between the Sustainable Development Goals and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities as well as other international relevant norms and standards relating to disability. Against the backdrop of all the available evidence, the report identifies good practices and recommends urgent actions to be taken for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by, for and with persons with disabilities. The e-book for this publication has been converted into an accessible format for the visually impaired and people with print reading disabilities. It is fully compatible with leading screen-reader technologies such as JAWS and NVDA.

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Expanding access to contraception is essential for achieving universal access to reproductive health-care services, as called for in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This Highlights presents estimates of contraceptive use and needs from 1990 to 2020, and projections to 2030 for 196 countries or areas of the world as well as regional and global trends. It describes the impact of population growth and changes in demand for family planning on the projected numbers of women who are contraceptive users or have unmet need for family planning. It also discusses global progress in meeting the demand for family planning with modern methods as called for in the 2030 Agenda (SDG indicator 3.7.1) and how satisfying the demand for family planning with modern methods can contribute towards progress in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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This publication contains criteria, test methods and procedures to be used for classification of dangerous goods according to the provisions of Parts 2 and 3 of the United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, Model Regulations, as well as of chemicals presenting physical hazards according to the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). It also supplements national or international regulations which are derived from the United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods or the GHS.

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El Informe sobre Desarrollo Humano 2020 (que celebra su 30º aniversario) constituye la última edición de la serie de Informes sobre Desarrollo Humano publicados a escala mundial por el Programa de las Naciones Unidas para el Desarrollo (PNUD) desde 1990. Estos informes ofrecen una explicación independiente, analítica y basada en datos empíricos sobre los principales problemas, tendencias y políticas en el ámbito del desarrollo. Este informe ofrece una alternativa necesaria y que invita a la reflexión frente a la parálisis ante un alarmante cambio planetario. Su publicación se produce en el momento en que la pandemia de COVID-19 ofrece una visión de lo que pudiera ser una ""nueva normalidad"" al mismo tiempo que abre la oportunidad de que la humanidad cambie de rumbo. El informe también plantea un nuevo Índice de Desarrollo Humano, de carácter experimental, ajustado por las presiones planetarias.

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This study offers a comparative analysis of 42 countries, examining common trends among causes leading to illicit cross-border money transfers. Its findings support existing theoretical frameworks on the key drivers of illicit financial flows. Our analysis has identified that most countries that experience large transfers to offshore bank accounts are characterised by weak regulatory systems: i.e., shortcomings in the institutional capacities to detect, monitor and prosecute illicit financial flows are the primary drivers behind tax evasion. The growing availability of macroeconomic and governance data on developing countries provides avenues for more detailed research on illicit financial flows in the future. As alternative methodologies for measuring these flows become more sophisticated, there is both a pressing need and a huge potential for the advancement of a research agenda focusing on illicit cross-border money flows.

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The report presents key facts and messages regarding international migration globally and by region during 2000-2020, based on the 2020 revision of the international migrant stock data set, which provides updated estimates of numbers of persons living outside their country of birth, classified by age, sex and origin, for 232 countries and areas. The report also reviews policies and programmes to promote planned and well-managed migration and provides an overview of SDG indicator 10.7.2 on the number of countries with migration policies to facilitate orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people, used for measuring progress toward the achievement of SDG target 10.7

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This is the annual report submitted to the General Assembly by the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space on its Sixty-first Session (12-21 June 2019)

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Volume I -Trade by Country - provides a condensed and integrated analytical view of the international merchandise trade, and trade in services up to the year 2020 by means of brief descriptive text, concise data tables and charts. The information presented provides insights into the latest trends of trade in goods and services of around 175 countries (and areas) in the world. The publication is aimed at both specialist trade data users and common audience at large. The data, charts and analyses will benefit anyone who is interested in trade issues

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This publication includes statistical information on population, work, education, health, housing and basic services, poverty and income distribution, and gender. It also contains economic statistics on international trade, balance of payments and domestic prices, as well as national accounts. It presents quantitative information available on the environment referring to physical conditions, land cover, biodiversity, environmental quality, energy, biological, and water resources, air emissions, extreme natural events and disasters, environmental regulation and governance, and settlements.

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This publication outlines the region's economic performance in 2018 and analyses trends in the early months of 2019, as well as the outlook for the rest of the year. It examines the external and domestic factors that have influenced the region's economic performance, analyses the characteristics of growth, prices and the labour market, and draws attention to some of the macroeconomic policy challenges of the prevailing external conditions, amid mounting uncertainty stemming mainly from political factors. It analyses the dynamics of investment and its determinants, with a view to identifying the different variables on which public policy can act to influence the trajectory of investment.

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This publication outlines the region's economic performance in 2020 and analyses trends in the early months of 2021, as well as the outlook for the rest of the year. It examines the external and domestic factors that have influenced the region's economic performance, analyses the characteristics of growth, prices and the labour market, and draws attention to some of the macroeconomic policy challenges of the prevailing external conditions, amid mounting uncertainty stemming mainly from political factors. It analyses the dynamics of investment and its determinants, with a view to identifying the different variables on which public policy can act to influence the trajectory of investment. This edition also analyses the impact of the crisis caused by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on the region's labour markets, with a comparison of historical trends, and particular emphasis placed on the disproportionate effect of the pandemic on female and youth employment

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This ECLAC annual report sets out and analyses the main foreign direct investment (FDI) trends in the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. In the region, FDI inflows were up (by 13.2%) year on year for the first time in five years, at US 184.287 billion. This performance is explained by higher flows into just a few countries, however, mainly Brazil and Mexico. Moreover, it does not reflect equity investment, but higher inflows in the form of intercompany loans and, to a lesser extent, reinvestment of earnings. Manufactures and services were the sectors receiving most equity, although there was a slight rise in investment in natural resource sectors compared with 2018

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This publication is a summary of the principal national accounting aggregates based on official national accounts data for more than 200 countries and areas, covering the years from 1970 to 2012. Tables include analysis of data on gross domestic product (GDP) by different structural components, which are classified into: 1) analysis of the level of total and per capita GDP; 2) analysis of the percentage shares of GDP by type of expenditure and gross value added by kind of economic activity; 3) analysis of economic development expressed in terms of real growth of GDP and its components by type of expenditure and gross value added by kind of economic activity, and 4) analysis of price development reflected by implicit price deflators of GDP.

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The Asia-Pacific region has been leading the global economic growth over the past few decades. However, rapid economic growth without sufficient inclusiveness is now constraining the region's future economic and broader development prospects. The COVID-19 pandemic has further revealed the vulnerability of the region due to lack of inclusiveness. The Survey 2021 estimated that 89 million people could have been pushed back into extreme poverty in the region due to COVID-19, contributing to an already increasing trend in income inequality in Asia and the Pacific. Going forward, concerns over a "K-shaped" economic recovery, both within and across countries, and the desire to ensure that the post-pandemic recovery is consistent with long-term inclusive development are broadly shared among policy makers and experts, as revealed during policy dialogues organized to disseminate the messages of Survey 2021. Additionally, international commitment to inclusive development, as manifested in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, is pushing distributional issues to the forefront of global policy agenda. With a focus on the role of economic policies in promoting inclusive development, the Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2022 will analyze the importance of effective government actions and the role of fiscal, monetary/financial and structural policies in enhancing inclusiveness, keeping in view the considerable impacts of COVID-19 on inclusiveness and inequality

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, digital frontier technologies such as artificial intelligence and big data analytics, amongst others, have been mobilised to fight against the pandemic. But it is also important that digital technologies serve the needs of the Sustainable Development Goals. This report reviews the status of digital frontier technologies in the Asia-Pacific region. It stresses that the policy framework for the next generation of technology and innovation should focus on creating an enabling environment for digital frontier technologies to positively impact economy, society, and environment; and to reduce inequalities

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The Forest Products Annual Market Review 2018-2019 provides a comprehensive analysis of markets in the UNECE region and reports on the main market influences outside the UNECE region. It covers the range of products from the forest to the end-user: from roundwood and primary processed products to value-added and housing. Statistics-based chapters analyse the markets for wood raw materials, sawn softwood, sawn hardwood, wood-based panels, paper, paperboard and woodpulp. Other chapters analyse policies, forest products trade barriers affecting the UNECE region, and markets for wood energy. Underlying the analysis is a comprehensive collection of data. The Review highlights the role of sustainable forest products in international markets. Policies concerning forests and forest products are discussed, as well as the main drivers and trends. The Review also analyses the effects of the current economic situation on forest products markets.

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One of the main value additions of the Survey 2023 is a proposal for an augmented Debt Sustainability Analysis (DSA) approach that duly incorporates SDG investment needs, potential socioeconomic and environmental gains, government's structural policies that go beyond financial considerations, and government's resource mobilisation strategies and financial capacity. The Survey 2023 also provides new insights on how to prevent potential public debt crises and resolve public debt distress in order to effectively pursue the SDGs. For example, in prevention of public debt crisis, governments will need to explore unconventional policy measures such as leveraging the potential of non-tax policy measures and public assets. In resolving public debt distress governments might need to bring the rising number of commercial debt creditors into discussions with the existing institutional investors, while fundamental policy actions to enhance fiscal resources are still needed, governments will also need to explore unconventional policy measures, such as leveraging the potential of non-tax policy measures and public assets amid rising public indebtedness. In resolving public debt distress, while the emergence of commercial creditors brings new opportunities as many of them are increasingly mindful about the importance of sustainable development, their participation in the existing global debt architecture is virtually missing. At the same time, several unconventional, SDG-aligned debt relief modalities have recently been proposed. Amid these and other changes in the global and Asia-Pacific debt landscapes and rising public indebtedness in the region, it is time to rethink public debt issues in support of the SDGs

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The average achievements the Asia-Pacific region has seen in education, employment and income reflect the role economic growth can play in helping people realize their potential. However, these achievements represent only that: an average. With an increasing gap between rich and poor and between those who have and those who do not have access to opportunities, Asia and the Pacific is also a region that is growing apart. This report adopts a rigorous approach to measuring and quantifying progress in the level of inclusion and empowerment of marginalised groups across countries in the region. It focuses on three main areas of direct link to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDGs, namely education, employment and income (SDG 4, SDG 8 and SDG 10). The purpose of the analysis is to assess to what extent disadvantaged groups have been included and empowered in these three areas. While there are various disadvantaged groups, the report focuses on women, rural residents, persons with disabilities, youth, older persons and migrants, as well as the furthest behind groups, which are shaped by various layers of circumstances. The aim of this report is to use analytical evidence to encourage policymakers to adopt policies that underpin inclusion and empowerment in their countries

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The Arab Human Development Report 2022 focuses on post-COVID recovery, assessing long standing development challenges across the spheres of governance, society, and economy-tackling aspects of gender; youth; education and health; multi-dimensional poverty; impacts on economic sectors, MSMEs and labour markets; displacement and migration; and nature and climate change challenges, to put the region on a resilient and sustainable human development path. The report also assesses adequacy and efficacy of response policies especially where the pandemic has led to widening inequalities and exacerbated existing challenges in such areas as public service provision, including social protection, care, education, healthcare and vaccine rollout. The report provides concrete recommendations on how to guide a resilient, sustainable, equitable, and inclusive recovery. It calls on Arab States to act quickly, decisively and at scale, to assess, evaluate, and strengthen capabilities and capacities and build effective and trustworthy institutional structures that can support a new social contract to better help societies cope with future shocks and disasters

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These Recommendations have been developed by the United Nations Economic and Social Council's Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods in light of technical progress, the advent of new substances and materials, the exigencies of modern transport systems and, above all, the requirement to ensure the safety of people, property and the environment. They are addressed to governments and international organizations concerned with the regulation of the transport of dangerous goods. They do not apply to the bulk transport of dangerous goods in sea-going or inland navigation bulk carriers or tank-vessels, which is subject to special international or national regulations.

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The World Statistics Pocketbook is an annual compilation of key statistical indicators prepared by the United Nations Statistics Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs. The topics covered include: agriculture, balance of payments, education, energy, environment, food, gender, health, information and communication, international finance, international tourism, international trade, labour, migration, national accounts, population and prices

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Over 50 indicators have been collected from more than 20 international statistical sources and are presented in one-page profiles for 30 world geographical regions and 232 countries or areas. The Pocketbook is organized into five sections; general information, economic indicators, major trading partners, social indicators, and environmental and infrastructure indicators. It presents data for the economic, social, environmental and infrastructure sections for three reference years - 2005, 2010 and 2019 - when available or the most recent data previous to these years, back to 2000, when it is not.

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The Financing for Sustainable Development Report (FSDR) assesses progress in implementing the commitments and actions in the Addis Ababa Action Agenda

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The Yearbook comprises annual data for 230 countries and areas for 2015-2018 on production, trade and consumption of energy: solids, liquids, gaseous fuels, electricity and heat, covering both renewable and non-renewable sources of energy. Per capita consumption series are also provided for all energy products. Graphs illustrate historic trends and/or changes in composition of production and/or consumption of major energy products. Special tables include: international trade tables for coal, crude petroleum and natural gas by partner countries – providing information on direction of trade; statistics on renewables and wastes; refinery distillation capacity; and selected energy resources

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‘There are few historical developments more significant than the realisation that those in power should not be free to torture and abuse those who are not.’ – Amal Clooney On 10 December 1948, in Paris, the United Nations General Assembly adopted an extraordinarily ground-breaking and important proclamation: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This milestone document, made up of thirty Articles, sets out, for the first time, the fundamental human rights that must be protected by all nations. The full text of the document is reproduced in this book following a foreword by human rights lawyer Amal Clooney and a general introduction which explores its origins in the ‘Four Freedoms’ described by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the role his wife Eleanor Roosevelt took on as chair of the Human Rights Commission and of the drafting committee, and the parts played by other key international members of the Commission. It was a pioneering achievement in the wake of the Second World War and continues to provide a basis for international human rights law, making this document’s aims ‘as relevant today as when they were first adopted a lifetime ago.’

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The 2021 International Trade Statistics Yearbook, Volume I —Trade by Country — provides a condensed and integrated analytical view of the international merchandise trade, and trade in services up to the year 2021 by means of brief descriptive text, concise data tables and charts. The information presented in the publication give an insight into the latest trends of trade in goods and services of around 175 countries (and areas) in the world. The yearbook is also made available online at https://comtrade.un.org/pb/. For more detailed data, users are requested to go to UN Comtrade (http://comtrade.un.org) which is the source of the information presented in the Yearbook, and is continuously updated. The publication is aimed at both specialist trade data users and common audience at large. The presented data, charts and analyses will benefit policy makers, government agencies, non-government organizations, civil society organizations, journalists, academics, researchers, students, businesses and anyone who is interested in trade issues. The information and analyses are presented in a way which can be comprehended by non-expert users of statistics

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The Yearbook provides statistics on the production of about 600 major industrial commodities. Data are provided for 2007-2016 for approximately 200 countries and territories. The commodities have been selected on the basis of their overall importance and their importance as outputs of individual ISIC industries in the world economy. The data cover commodities produced by mining, manufacturing and electricity and gas units. The Yearbook provides data on both quantities and values of production and is organized in two volumes: Volume I: Physical Quantity Data and Volume II: Monetary Value Data. The publication contains three annexes on commodities and information on all the classifications used.

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The Forest Products Annual Market Review 2017-2018 provides a comprehensive analysis of markets in the UNECE region and reports on the main market influences outside the UNECE region. It covers the range of products from the forest to the end-user:from roundwood and primary processed products to value-added and housing. Statistics-based chapters analyse the markets for wood raw materials, sawn softwood, sawn hardwood, wood-based panels, paper, paperboard and woodpulp. Other chapters analyse policies, trade barriers affecting forest products, and markets for wood energy. Underlying the analysis is a comprehensive collection of data. The Review highlights the role of sustainable forest products in international markets. Policies concerning forests and forest products are discussed, as well as the main drivers and trends. The Review also analyses the effects of the current economic situation on forest products markets

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This publication provides information on and independent analyses of trends and developments in: (a) intra- and inter-regional trade in goods and services; (b) foreign direct investment; (c) trade facilitation measures; (d) trade policy measures; and (e) preferential trade policies and agreements. It provides insights into the impacts of these recent and emerging developments on countries' abilities to meet the challenges of achieving inclusive and sustainable development. It identifies and studies emerging issues in all these areas and offers innovative policy options towards building capacities of governments in the region to meet the challenges of achieving inclusive and sustainable development. APTIR 2014 shows that, while the Asia-Pacific region remains the most dynamic pole of the global economy, growth in trade and investment has yet to return to pre-crisis levels. The Report is aimed at policymakers as well as practitioners and experts, academia, business, international agencies and non-governmental organizations working or interested in these issues in the Asia-Pacific region. It comes with separate country and subregional country briefs.

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The Forest Products Annual Market Review, 2015-2016 provides general and statistical information on forest products markets in 2015 and early 2016 in the UN Economic Commission for Europe region (North America, Europe, the CIS), as well as market influences from outside the UNECE region. The Review covers the range of products from the forest to the final end-user: from roundwood and primary processed products to value-added and innovative wood products. Statistic-based chapters of the Review analyse markets of wood raw materials, sawn softwood, sawn hardwood, wood-based panels, paper, paper board and woodpulp. Other chapters analyse policies, innovative wood products, markets of wood energy, value-added wood products and housing. A special section on pallets and wooden packaging is also included this year. Underlying the analysis is a comprehensive collection of data.

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The Asia and the Pacific SDG Progress Report 2023 analyses regional and subregional progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and targets. It applies a measurement framework developed by ESCAP to identify progress gaps and acceleration requirements at the goal, target and indicator levels. While there are impressive national accomplishments across the 17 Goals, none of the countries in the region are on track to reach them and overall achievement is much lower than anticipated for the midpoint. One impediment to success is gaps in available data. This report features good practices on data driven approaches for effective implementation of the 2030 Agenda, which provide lessons to countries and can be leveraged to advance sustainable development in the region

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This report analyses trends as well as data availability for monitoring progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Asia and the Pacific and its five subregions. It assesses gaps which must be closed to achieve the goals by 2030. This assessment is designed to ensure the region's actions remain on target, shortcomings are addressed as they arise, and all interested parties remain engaged. It is an invaluable resource for all stakeholders involved in prioritization, planning, implementation and follow-up of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific.

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The global business environment has undergone a major transformation that requires greater knowledge to address the social and environmental challenges of our time. Due to severe climate change and widening of gaps between socioeconomic groups, businesses are pressured to change normative management practices and operations towards development that is both inclusive and sustainable. While shareholders have a vested interest in financial economic returns, stakeholders are more broadly interested in business' objectives, policies and operations which may impact the global sustainability. In this context, the notion of socially responsible business (SRB) is gaining relevance. SRB is an approach in which for-profit businesses are proactively operating and undertaking projects that are aligned to achieving the long-term economic, social and environmental objectives of society. This book aims to increase the knowledge of policymakers and corporate leaders on SRB practices.

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Sustainable Development Goal 8 calls for promoting sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth. These three aspects of economic growth correspond to the three pillars of sustainable development: economic resilience, social inclusiveness and environmental sustainability. The region has made tremendous progress on the economic front. However, economic inequality within and among the region's economies has increased, and rapid expansion of economic output has contributed to untenable levels of environmental degradation. The Survey shows that this is an opportune time for governments to initiate policies that can make economies resilient, inclusive and sustainable. It contains analyses of such issues and explores policy options.

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The Asset Recovery Handbook: A Guide for Practitioners has been updated in 2020 by the Stolen Asset Recovery (StAR) initiative, a joint initiative of the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime and the World Bank focused on encouraging and facilitating a more systematic and timely return of stolen assets. Designed as a how-to manual, the handbook guides practitioners as they grapple with the strategic, organizational, investigative, and legal challenges of recovering assets that have been stolen by corrupt leaders and hidden abroad. It provides common approaches to recovering stolen assets located in foreign jurisdictions, identifies the challenges that practitioners are likely to encounter, and introduces good practices. By consolidating into a single framework, information that is dispersed across various professional backgrounds, the handbook has enhanced the effectiveness of practitioners working in a team environment. After 10 years of serving as a recognized reference for practitioners and trainers since it was first published in 2011, the StAR initiative decided to develop this updated version by incorporating developments based on the experience collected during this decade, including new legislation and case examples. This 2020 second edition emphasizes the need to utilize innovative strategies and technical tools, including in the context of international cooperation

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